We had a similar decision to make except that the casements were to open into a screened porch and we were concerned that while on the porch, people might run into them. We have double hung windows with grills on the top half all throughtout our home but I didn't want my sink centered on a middle piece of wood between two casements. Was just something I didn't personally like for our kitchen. We then saw a similar window to what is in my most recent post which has sliders where the side casements usually are and a large picture window in the middle. WE LOVE IT because it gives us unobstructed view, still has the venting options, screens are on the outside and we felt that having the option of the grills on the side windows, helped it to look more traditional like the rest of the windows in our home....our window is one of the best choices we made - we just love it! I copied my link to my pictures below....you'll see it in the 4th pic down over the sink. Here is a link that might be useful: imlebby's kitchen

I had single hung AL frame windows in a home I sold about a year and a half ago. they were ok, even though the house was a single story ranch going out side to wash the windows was a pain... some wiwdows were harder to reach from the ground and I still needed a ladder, plus some had flower beds outside under them. that made it harder since I didn't want to tramp down the flowers. I am starting to replace the old wood double hung windows with double hung windows that tilt in to clean. I really like them I have to say it makes cleaning them very easy and worth the price to me because I hate to clean windows so much. I have never cleaned the old windows in the house I am in now and doubt if I ever will clean any of the old windows before they get replaced since its such a hassle.

The reasoning behind this is the manufacturer doesn't make a good DH unit. The vinyl DH's need to be better built and stronger than the others. Anytime you have two fully functional sashes you require a more precise installation with more patience. The Single Hungs are just cheaper to make and easier to hang. Almost idiot proof in most cases. They are also more energy efficient from air infiltration becuase a lot of installers don't take the time to shim the DH unit properly. They end up leaking around the sashes, creating that ever so hated call back. With a stationary top sash they don't have to worry about anything leaking around the upper sash. The downfall of the SH is you can't tilt the sash in for cleaning. This can be quite trouble some for the windows off the ground a ways. There are ways around that for cleaning if shown the proper way. The history of the DH window goes back to the old farm houses that never had AC or Central Air. They would pull the top sash down about six inches and the lower sash up about six inches. This would let the air circulate better in each room by creating the drafting affect (Firefighters call it breathing during a house fire). With todays AC in almost every house the DH windows aren't really required for the drafting situation. You can still get them from almost every dealer. If they are balking at DH's with reasoning like they gave you. I would steer clear of them and start shopping for another supplier. Hope this makes sense to you. God Luck!!!

Hi, I have Pella double hung windows that are approximately 15 years old. They are the old double pane design where the inside pane could be removed to put blinds or mutins between the glass panels. As long as I can remember the sashes on a couple of them do not line up where the window latch is. The lower sash sticks up about 1/4+ inch higher. This creates a problem in the winter. It creates a small dam where a lot of condensation forms that then wicks up between the glass panes. Does anybody know if there is an adjustment to fix this? The windows do open and close fine so I don't think it's a problem with window squareness. I called Pella today and they indicated the windows are no longer in warranty. They want $100/hour to come look at them.